Band wiping mechanism for shoe lasting machine

ABSTRACT

A machine for lasting stitchdown shoes having a support generally co-extensive marginally with an insole peripheral extension, at least around one end of a shoe; a flexible band generally shaped to suit the one end of the shoe; and means for moving the support and the band to wipe a shoe upper heightwise about a last and to press an outturned margin of the upper against the insole extension.

United States Patent 1191 Decareau et al.

1 Sept. 23, 1975 BAND WIPING MECHANISM FOR SHOE LASTING MACHINE [75] Inventors: Alfred J. Decareau, South Hamilton; Richard A. Collins, Beverly, both of Mass.

[73] Assignee: USM Corporation, Boston, Mass. [22] Filed: Apr. 30, 1974 [21] Appl. No.: 465,607

[52] US. Cl l2/7.5; 12/144 [51] Int. Cl. A43D 14/00; A43D 21/00 [58] Field of Search l2/7.5, 8.1, 8.2, 10.1,

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,718,019 9/1955 'Parrelli l2/7.8

James 12/78 Chambers 12/78 Primary ExaminerPatrick D. Lawson Attorney, Agent. or FirmDoriald N. Halgren; Vincent A. White; Richard B. Megley [57] ABSTRACT A machine for lasting stitchdown shoes having a support generally co-extensive marginally with an insole peripheral extension, at least around one end of a shoe; a flexible band generally shaped to suit the one end of the shoe; and means for moving the support and the band to wipe a shoe upper heightwise about a last and to press an outturne'd margin of the upper against the insole extension.

3 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures US Patent Sept. 23,1975 Sheet 2 0m 3 9% ,568

BAcKGRouNDoF THE INVENTION The invention relates generally tomachines for last ing stitchdown shoes andparticularly to an improved means for wiping a shoe upper heightwiseover a last and forpressing the outturned'margin of the :upper against a marginal'portion of an insole extending beyond the bottom of the last. v

According to the usual practice of lasting shoes. the shoe uppers are'wiped 'heightwise of the last by platelike wipers having a cut-out shape generally corresponding to the shape of one end of the last. Since both shape.and outline of the shoe change substantially in runs of sizes. it is necessary at considerable cost to provide a number of wiper sets for a size run. Additionally. even a slight change of style usually requires another complete set of wiper plates.

It is time consuming for an operator to change wipers in a lastingmachine several times for a size run especially when the .wipers are heated. Frequently, operators are reluctant to change wipers, particularly near the extremes .of the size capability of a wiper shape. considering the loss of time and the danger of handling the hot wipers. This results in a substantial loss of possible operator efficiency as well as a reduction in quality of the wiping results.

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION Accordingly. it is an object of the invention to provide an improved wiping mechanism which overcomes the above disadvantages. To this end. a flexible band is provided to replace the usual plate-like wipers. The band is generally U-shapcd and. due to its flexibility. is easily conformable to the peripheral shape of the shoe ends of an entire run of sizes to be lasted. Since the outturned margin of the upper is to be secured to the insole extension. usually by adhesive. the underside of the band is of a shape adapted to press the upper margin and insole extension against the shoe upper.

It is common in lasting machines to provide grippers for tensioning the shoe uppers heightwisc about the last. The grippers often are bodily adjustable while holding the margin of the shoe upper to adjust the loca tion of upper relative to the last such as for straightening a tip line feature of the upper. It is advantageous to provide this facility also for stitchdown shoes. However. due to the insole extension. outline of the support beyond the last edge and the usual wiper mounting. insufficient space is provided to permit such gripper adjustment. With the use of a wiping band instead of plate-like wipers and their mounting. sufficient space is provided for easy gripper adjustment. Additionally. the

grippings can be yicldably urged inwardly against the periphery of the shoe support to provide locating means for the last with the insole thereon.

The preferred embodiment of the invention will now be described with reference to the drawings. It should be understood that the particular lasting machine shown is described only by way of example and not by limitation.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. I is a perspective view of a shoe lasting machine embodying the band wiping means of the invention;

(III

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary plan view of a stitchdown shoe'on the shoe support and showing the relation of the wiping band;-'

, FIGpB is a side elevation in section taken generally along the centerline of the machine;

-FIG. 4 is a view similar to FIG. 3 with various parts in positions assumed in an advanced part of the machine cycle;

FIG. Sis a section taken oh line V-"V of FIG. 3: and

FIG. 6-is a section similar to FIG. 5 but with various parts in the same positions'shown in FIG. 4.

Referring to FIG. I, there is shown atypical shoe lasting machine provided with a shoe support 2 on which the forepart of a shoe rests as'seen in FIGS. 3-6. The machine also is providedwith toe "grippers 4 and side grippers 6 which as seen'in FIGS. 3 and 5 act'to tension ashoe upper U heightwise over a last L. The'grippers 4 and 6 seen in FIG. I may be urged yieldably in against the edges of the shoc support. the act initially as locating means for the last L with an insole I located on the bottom thereof.

The machine has a U-shaped band which is made of afirm but flexible. material such as known by the trademark Teflon. The band conforms to the general shape of the forepart ofa shoe but is flexible enough to conform to an entire size run of one or more similar styles of shoes to be lasted. The band is detachably secured by holders l0and clip means 12 on the outer ends of a pair of arms 14. The arms are carried on a head 16 which in the machine shown is movable hcightwise with respect to the support 2. The sides of the band'are engageablc by pads 18 which are carried on pistons (not shown) extending from cylinders 20 carried by brackets 22 securcd to the head 16. I

In the operation ofthe machine. a last with an insole on the bottom thereof is placcd on the support 2. The grippers 4 and 6 engage the periphery of the insole for centering the last and insole on the support. Obviously. separate means for locating the insole could be provided without departing from the scope of the invention. As seen in FIGS. 36. the periphery of the support is generally co-extensivc with the periphery of the insole and also underlies both the insole extension and the margin of the body of the shoe. It is not essential that the edge ofthe support and the insole periphery be identical. but it is sufficient if they generally conform in size.

The grippers 4 and 6 are closed on the upper margin in any well-known manner and the shoe support is moved heightwise to tension the upper over the last as seen in FIGS. 3 and 5. It should be obvious that the support could be fixed and the grippers bodily movable to accomplish the same tensioning purpose. The band 8 may be advanced heelwardly from a remote location to that shown in FIG. 3 but may alternatively be initially located in such position. The head 16 is then moved down by means not shown but which may be of a wide variety of means commonly known in the art. The band is thereby moved down until. it engages the upper around the forepart as shown in broken lines in FIGS. 3 and 5. whereupon the grippers release the tensioned upper. It should be clear that it is not essential to the spirit of the invention that either the band 8 or the support 2 be movable or fixed so long as relative heightwise movement occurs.

During continued relative movement between the band 8 and the support 2 from the positions shown in FIGS. 3 and 5 to those shown in FIGS. 4 and 6., the upper is wiped heightwise about the last and the margin thereof is outturned and pressed against the insole extension E. As noted. the band is of a material which slides easily on the upper as it wipes heightwise. Since the band is also relatively firm. the bottom surface can press the upper margin firmly against the supported insole extension. To restrain the band against relative heightwise movement during the downwipe. the holders l0 and pads l8 overly the upper surface of the band. A plate 2l on the head also restrains the toe end of the band. At that time the cylinders 20 are activated topressthe side legs of the hand against the side of upper and last through the pads 18.

After the band8 moves the margin of the upper against the supported insole extension, a plate 22 carried by an arm 24 is moved down to engage pads 26 with bosses on the upper sides of the arms 14 carrying the holders l0;and bosses onthepads 1.8. A firm pressure is applied by the arm 24 in any well known manner to bed down the upper margin on the insole extension. The upper margin and/or the insole extension are preccmented so that the bedding forces secure the upper and insole. together. The sccurement may be temporary or .pern i incnt depending on whether the upper and insole are subsequently sewn together.

lt should be obvious that many substitution of parts and mechanisms may be made .without departing from the scope of the invention defined by the following claimsf We claim: v I v l A machine for lasting stitchdown type of shoes in which an insole has a marginal extension projecting beyond the peripheral edge of a last bottom and an outturned margin of a shoe upper is secured to the insole extension including a support for the shoe bottom generally co-extensive marginally with the insole extension (ill at least about one'end of the shoe. a U-shaped flexible band generally corresponding to the shape of said end of the shoe. means for causing relative bodily movement between the band and the support heightwise of a shoe on the support for wiping the upper heightwise about said end of the last and for pressing said outturned margin against the insole extension. means for applying an additional force for relatively moving the band and support to apply an added bedding pressure to compress and secure together the insole and margin of the upper. said machine also having grippers which are yieldably engageable with the periphery of the support to locate the last and insole in the machine.

2. A machine according to claim 1 in which a plurality of adjustable grippers are provided to tension the upper about the last and to bodily adjust the upper on the last.

3. A machine for lasting stitchdown type of shoes in which an insole has a marginal extension projecting beyond the peripheral edgeof a last bottom and an outturned margin of a shoe upper is secured to the insole extension including a support for the shoe bottom generally co-extensive marginally with the insole extension at least about one end of the shoe. a U-shaped flexible band generally corresponding to the shape of said end of the shoe. means for causing relative bodily movement between the band and the support heightwise of a shoe on the support for wiping the upper heightwise about said end of the last and for pressing said outturned margin against the insole extension, means for pressing said band inwardly of the shoe during the hcightwise relative movement ofthe band and the support. said inwardly pressing means including fluid pressure operated motors adapted to urge the legs of the band inwardly. 

1. A machine for lasting stitchdown type of shoes in which an insole has a marginal extension projecting beyond the peripheral edge of a last bottom and an outturned margin of a shoe upper is secured to the insole extension including a support for the shoe bottom generally co-extensive marginally with the insole extension at least about one end of the shoe, a U-shaped flexible band generally corresponding to the shape of said end of the shoe, means for causing relative bodily movement between the band and the support heightwise of a shoe on the support for wiping the upper heightwise about said end of the last and for pressing said outturned margin against the insole extension, means for applying an additional force for relatively moving the band and support to apply an added bedding pressure to compress and secure together the insole and margin of the upper, said machine also having grippers which are yieldably engageable with the periphery of the support to locate the last and insole in the machine.
 2. A machine according to claim 1 in which a plurality of adjustable grippers are provided to tension the upper about the last and to bodily adjust the upper on the last.
 3. A machine for lasting stitchdown type of shoes in which an insole has a marginal extension projecting beyond the peripheral edge of a last bottom and an outturned margin of a shoe upper is secured to the insole extension including a support for the shoe bottom generally co-extensive marginally with the insole extension at least about one end of the shoe, a U-shaped flexible band generally corresponding to the shape of said end of the shoe, means for causing relative bodily movement between the band and the support heightwise of a shoe on the support for wiping the upper heightwise about said end of the last and for pressing said outturned margin against the insole extension, means for pressing said band inwardly of the shoe during the heightwise relative movement of the band and the support, said inwardly pressing means including fluid pressure operated motors adapted to urge the legs of the band inwardly. 